Field-fence



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MITCHELL, OF WAYNE, NEW YORK.

FIELD-FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,843, dated October 19, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. MITCHELL, of IVayne, in the county ofSteuben and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Methodof Constructing Convertible FieldFences; and I do hereby de clare thatthe following is a full and exact description of the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l, is an elevation of the post and a portion of two panels. Fig.2, is an elevation of the post viewed transversely, the connectingslides of the panels being in section. Fig. 3, is the same View of apost with braces attached. Fig. 4, is a side View of the same. Fig. 5,is a plan View of that portion of the fence shown in Fig. l. Fig. G, isa plan view of same converted into a worm fence.

The same letters refer to corresponding parts in each of the figures.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction.

I construct my fence in sections, consisting of panels composed of asuitable number of strips of usual board length, say of twelve orsixteen feet, though I prefer the former. These are secured together bynailing two narrow strips, or battens, upon opposite sides at each end,and two in the middle, using hard wood, (oak being preferable) for thepurpose, and wrought nails. Upon one end of each panel I place two shortbattens, a Fig. l, distant one or two feet from the end and, at theopposite end I place an extra batten, Y), Figs. l, 5 and 6, upon oneside of the panel only.

In two of the spaces between the rails I provide sliding pieces, c,which move the distance between the end battens and the short one, a,and are prevented from going farther by the pin, al. I also provide asingle post to each panel, which should be made of hard wood, and longenough to insert in the ground to a depth of one and a half feet orthereabout. In this post are two vertical slots, e e, Fig. 2, throughwhich pass the movable slats, c. These slots are about ten inches long,or more than double the width of the sliding piece, c, to admit of thepost rising from the upheaval of the ground by frost wit-hout affectingthe fence. The post passes through a mortise in a small base or groundpiece, C Fig. 2, which lies upon the surface of the ground and aidsmaterially in keeping it perpendicular in soft ground and rendering itless liable to be overturned by winds, &c.

The arrangement of the panels and relative position of the post areshown in Fig. l; A A, being the panels; B, the battens, and D, the post.E, is the surface of the ground on which set the lower ends of thebattens they being made a few inches longer than the bottom board toelevate it slightly above the ground. The ends may rest on stone toprevent the absorption of moisture from the ground.

For high fences, and those exposed to wind, or designed to break thesnow, I attach swivel braces F, F, Fig. 3, which have their axis in apin through the top of the post at g. The two detached extremities ofthese braces are separated at an angle more or less diverging, and, thepost being driven down until they press hard against the surface of theground, they brace it very effectually. They can be spread more or lessas required, and are equally applicable to hill sides, where, byextending that on the upper side, they are readily adapted to theinclination of the surface.

This fence is convertible from a straight to a worm fence, andvice-versa, at the option of the farmer, requiring no change ofconstruction, and merely the setting of the posts in differentpositions.

Fig. 5, is a plan View of a portion of the fence, as built straight. Thedifferent parts are designated by their respective letters, the slidesbeing indicated by dotted lines. To convert it into a worm, or angularfence, it is only necessary to place the posts alternately on twoparallel lines at proper distances, or at what would constitute theangles of a zigzag line. The panels are then placed between them as atFig. 6, and the slides, c, drawn, the ends of which pass between the endbattens B, obliquely, and also between them and the auxiliary batten, b,securing both panels to the post elfectually, as the slide in thisposition acts both as a lock and as a brace against batten b. Anotherpin may be placed in the slide at f to prevent it being withdrawn. Theends of the panels, the battens, and the slots in the posts are beveledto adapt them to this arrangement, which is a valuable one to the ownerof the soil, as adapting the fence to all situations, since itfrequently happens that a strong worm fence is required in a certainplace which, when removed to vanother where the land is more valuablefor cultivation, would be much more economical both as regards the landoccupied, and the length of fence obtained from a certain amount oflumber, if built straight. ItI is therefore left to tli'e choice andjudgment of the farmer whether he sets it up straight or angular. Theposts operate in the salne manner in the one as the other; that is, theyyield to the action of frost without affecting the fences and can at anytime be righted up or driven deeper without removing the panels orslides. In taking up the fence it is only necessary to insert the end ofa bar or lever in one of the slots, e, of the post using a piece ofboard of suitable height as a fulcrum, when they are drawn out withtrifling labor. Any panel can be removed to form a gate way at a momentsnotice by withdrawing the slides and taking it out without impairingth-e strength of the others. Experience has convincedY me that nostraight fence either portable or permanent will be eiicient withoutposts which enter the ground, and in order to have the fence endure fora reasonable length of time without leaning or becoming irregular andunsightly from the action of the elements, the posts must be capable ofadjustment without taking down the fence and rebuilding. This result isobtained by means of the connecting slides 0 of the panels, and slotted.posts.

The braces F F, may be used or not as the purpose and situation of thefence rej quire.

This fence while possessing all the advantages of lightness andportability that are usually attained has in addition those of economyof cost and durability. To evidence its economy I will state the cost.

Each panel requires, including one post- 30 feet` of lumber costing onecent per foot 30 cts. Nails 3 c.; costof labor in making `battens whenhard is not easily procured though the latter is preferable. A cap-piece0r strip of board placed lengthwise on the top ofthe panels may be addedif thought desirable, both for strengthening the fence and to give amore inishedappearance.

I do not claim as my invention constructing fences in separate sectionsor panels and uniting them with posts in any other than the specificmanner which I have described.

The combination'of the slotted post l), with the panels A A, whenconstructed with the slides C and auxiliary battens a and Z), so as toform a fence readily convertible from a'straiglit to an angular one,substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

JOHN B. MITCHELL.

j "Witnesses H. T. MITCHELL, ELIZABETH MITCHELL.

